Osteospermum plant named &#39;sunny marina&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunny Marina’, characterized by its single, daisy type composite inflorescenses with elliptic ray florets and tubular disc florets; violet to light purple disc florets and light purple ray florets with gray-orange undersides; dark green to yellow-green, small and narrow leaves; ovate to spatulate leaves with 6-8 small, acute lobes; and short peduncles and compact bushy plant shape.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Sunny Marina’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T Norl., commonly known as Cape Daisy, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘Sunny Marina’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Bjarne Larsen, in Stige, Odense, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Osteospermum variety with upright plant habit, compact growth habit, interesting inflorescence color, and good keeping quality.

The new Osteospermum originated from a planned crossing of two Osteospermum selected parent plants made by the inventor in 2002 in Stige, Odense, Denmark. The female or seed parent is an Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T Norl. cultivar designated ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is an Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. cultivar designated ‘999’ (unpatented). The new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ was selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above crossing in 2003 in a controlled environment in Stige, Odense, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum cultivar by apical stem cuttings was first performed in February of 2003 in Stige, Odense, Denmark, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Marina’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunny Marina’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Single, daisy type composite inflorescenses with elliptic ray         florets and tubular disc florets;     -   2. Violet to light purple disc florets and light purple ray         florets with gray-orange undersides;     -   3. Dark green to yellow-green, small and narrow leaves;     -   4. Ovate to spatulate leaves with 6-8 small, acute lobes; and     -   5. Short peduncles and compact bushy plant shape.

Plants of the parental cultivars, ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented) and ‘999’ (unpatented) are unavailable to provide a detailed botanical comparison to plants of the new cultivar ‘Sunny’.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ is Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Silvia’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,354). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stige, Denmark, plants of ‘Sunny Marina’ differed from plants of ‘Sunny Silvia’ in the characteristics described in Table 1: TABLE 1 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘Sunny Silvia’ Trait ‘Sunny Marina’ (patented, PP10, 354) Plant height About 20 cm About 32 cm Plant diameter About 21 cm About 48 cm Number of Lateral Primary: 4 Primary: 6 Branches Secondary: 17 (flowering) Secondary: 25 Lateral Branch Primary: 3 cm Primary: 33 cm Length Secondary: 12-14 cm (incl. Secondary: 9-12 cm inflorescence) Lateral Branch Diameter 4-5 mm 6-7 mm Internode Length About 30 mm 15-29 mm Shape of Leaves Ovate to spatulate, 6-8 acute Obovate, sinuate with 3-6 pointed lobes lobes Apex Shape of Leaves Subacute Acuminate Size of Leaves Length: 3-4 cm Length: About 9 cm Width: 1-3 cm Width: About 3.5 cm Mature Leaf Color Upper side: RHS 139B Upper side: RHS 147A Under side: RHS 147C Under side: RHS 147A Venation Pattern Brochidodromus, form of Palmate pinnate Petiole Diameter: 10-20 mm 35 mm Inflorescence Width 6-7 cm 9 cm Bud Color From yellow-green, RHS 146C Yellow-green, RHS 154A (base) to RHS 146B Ray Floret Color Upper side: Light purple, RHS Upper side: Purple, RHS 78B to (fully opened) 75C (apex) with RHS 76D white, RHS 155A on the sides (base) Under side: Gray-orange, RHS Under side: Light violet, RHS 84D 174A, with longitudinal stripes with stripes of RHS 84A of RHS N170D Ray Floret Color Fading No fading; withering Fading to nearly white at proximal end Peduncle Length About 10 cm About 19 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 3 shows a top and bottom view of typical inflorescence of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 4 shows a dissected view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 5 shows a top and bottom view of the leaves of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘Sunny Marina’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Then new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Marina’ as grown in a greenhouse in Stige, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Vegetative propagation with apical tip cuttings (4-5 leaves) took place in a greenhouse with propagation tents for 3 weeks with the day and night temperature averaging about 20° C. The temperature was then lowered to the day and night temperature averaging about 14° C. The plants were subirrigated with a nutrient solution of 2-3 mS when needed and given supplementary irradiation with SON T lamps having an installed energy level of 400 Wm².

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 4^(th) edition 2000, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the spring when outdoor day temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 15° C. and outdoor night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 8° C. The age of the plants described is 20 weeks.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.             designated ‘90.024.00’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.             designated ‘999’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Apical stem cutting.         -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—Summer: About 12 to             14 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.             Winter: About 17 to 20 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels             in a greenhouse.         -   Time and temperature to develop roots.—Summer: About 14 to             18 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.             Winter: About 20 to 22 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels             in a greenhouse.         -   Rooting description.—100% rooting.         -   Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous and branching.         -   Root color.—White, RHS 155B. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Perennial plant with upright,             inverse conical plant habit and used as a potted or bedding             plant. Basal branching and pinching required. Osteospermum             inflorescences in composite heads, daisy type.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Freely branching with lateral             flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.         -   Growth rate/vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 20             cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 21 cm, Range: 20-22 cm.         -   Plant strength.—Low temperature tolerance to +1° C. High             temperature tolerance: Not tested over 30° C., but flowering             ceases over 28° C.         -   Crop time to produce a mature flowering plant.—After             rooting, about 20 weeks are required to produce finished             flowering plants in 11 cm pots. -   Branches:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—4 primary, 17 secondary.         -   Length.—Primary: About 3 cm, Secondary: 12-14 cm (including             inflorescence).         -   Diameter.—About 4-5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 30 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright, branches at 70° angle.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 144C, yellow-green. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate (5 whorl), single, lobed, ovate to             lanceolate.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—About 15-18.         -   Length.—About 3-4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1-3 cm.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Ovate to spatulate, 6-8 acute lobes.         -   Shape at apex.—Mature leaf: Subacute Young leaf: Acute.         -   Shape at base.—Attenuate to decussate.         -   Margin.—Lobed (6-8 small, triangular lobes).         -   Texture.—Matte, scattered, short stiff hairs along veins and             edges.         -   Color of developing foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 137B, green             Lower surface: RHS 138B, green.         -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 139B, green             Lower surface: RHS 147C, yellow-green.         -   Venation pattern.—Brochidodromus, form of pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Only central vein discernible from leaf             color: RHS 147C.         -   Petiole length.—About 10-20 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2-4 mm (flat, winged).         -   Petiole texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface:             Hirsute with scattered stiff hairs.         -   Petiole color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A, yellow-green Lower             surface: RHS 145B, yellow-green. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences held above             and beyond the foliage. Single, composite inflorescence             form, radially symmetrical, with flat, lanceolate-shaped ray             florets and tubular disc florets massed at the center; ray             and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.             Inflorescences face upright with aspect of 80°.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring             and summer in temperate regions. Season can be extended by             vernalization and long day treatments. Flowering may cease             if temperatures exceed 28° C.         -   Time to flower.—5 to 11 days (longevity of individual             inflorescences is dependent on temperature and light             conditions).         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color             and substance for about 14 days on the plant when grown in             an outdoor environment. Inflorescences persistent, but             wither to insignificance.         -   Quantity.—Freely flowering; more than 25 open inflorescences             and inflorescence buds per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Flowers have a weak, fresh lemon scent. -   Bud:     -   -   Rate of opening (from showing color to fully open             inflorescence).—4 to 5 days.         -   Quantity of buds per lateral stem.—About 8.         -   Length.—About 0-12 mm at color showing.         -   Diameter.—About 0-10 mm.         -   Shape.—Globular until color, then ovoid.         -   Color.—From RHS 144A, yellow-green (base) to RHS 79A, purple             (apex). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Terminal: About 10 cm Secondary: About 6 cm             Tertiary: About 5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Appearance and angle.—Terminal: Erect Secondary: About 10 to             25 degrees from vertical. Tertiary: About 30 to 45 degrees             from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 144C, yellow-green. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About up to 7 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—About ½ cm.         -   Receptacle shape.—Semiglobular.         -   Receptacle color.—RHS 145B, yellow-green. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Typical number: 21 Observed             number: 19-24.         -   Length.—About 32 mm, Range: 30-34 mm.         -   Width.—About 8 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptic (flat, lanceolate).         -   Shape at apex.—Acute, slightly retuse.         -   Shape at base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Silky Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Orientation.—Initially 45 degrees from vertical, with             development, close to 80 degrees from vertical.         -   Color (when opening).—Upper surface: Apex, RHS 75C, light             purple fading to RHS 76D at base Lower surface: RHS 174A,             gray-orange, with stripes of RHS 174D.         -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper surface: Apex, RHS 75C,             light purple fading to RHS 76D at base Lower surface: RHS             174A, gray-orange with stripes of RHS 170D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Typical number: 80 Observed             number: 68-90.         -   Length.—About 7-8 mm.         -   Width.—At apex: About 3 mm. At base: About 1 mm.         -   Disc area diameter.—About 14 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Tubular.         -   Shape at apex.—Star.         -   Shape at base.—Tube.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Shiny, translucent.         -   Color (when opening).—Upper side: Apex, RHS 83B, violet, to             RHS 76D, light purple (base) Under side: RHS 76D, light             purple.         -   Color (fully opened).—Apex, RHS N186B, gray-purple. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 18 in a single whorl.         -   Length.—About 6-12 mm.         -   Width.—About 1-3 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Shape at apex.—Acuminate.         -   Shape at base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface: Slightly             hirsute.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144C, yellow-green, translucent.             Lower surface: RHS 144A, yellow-green. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium: On disc florets only.     -   -   Stamen number.—5 per floret; fused around style.         -   Stamen length.—About 6 mm.         -   Anther shape.—Linear.         -   Anther length.—About 2 mm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 79B, purple.         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Pollen color.—RHS N25A, orange. -   Gynoecium: On ray and disc florets.     -   -   Quantity.—1 per floret.         -   Pistil length.—About 4 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Brush-like.         -   Stigma color.—RHS N187A, purple.         -   Style length.—About 2 mm.         -   Style color.—RHS N155D, white.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 2D, green-yellow. -   Seed: None observed at this stage of development. -   Fruit: None observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Good -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No pests or diseases observed -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have exhibited     good tolerance to draught, rain and wind; however, flowering may     cease during hot periods (temperatures above 28° C.). Low     temperature tolerance to 1° C. -   Growth retardant(s): 3 times 0.2% Chlormequat drench during     production 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunny Marina’, as illustrated and described herein. 